Abstract

The study of biomarkers involves all areas of the knowledge and provides a powerful approach to understand numerous aspects of a disease or normal processes. Potential applications of biomarkers investigations are wide. The study of biomarkers in farmed salmonids is an interesting and unexplored field. In consideration to the different diseases affecting salmon fishes in the world, the information about salmonid biomarkers could be helpful for salmon industry. The implementation of new diagnostic methodologies is essential in the detection and control of diseases. The use of Mass Spectrometry techniques provides a useful tool to determine the mass of a wide range of biomolecules. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/deionization (MALDI) techniques allow the detection and identification of biomarkers in biological samples as profiling experiments (MALDI-MS) and its spatial resolution/relative abundance (MALDI-IMS). 1,2 The purpose of this study is to search and to identify biomarkers in farmed salmonid using MALDI-TOF method, including healthy and diseased individuals. The study comprises the biomarker composition of different fish tissues and organs from Salmo salar species. The samples are prepared by a simple extraction method. Mass spectrum of the extracts were analysed by a MALDI-TOF equipment (Bruker Daltonics). Figure 1 is showing the MALDI spectrum of different organs and tissues from a healthy salmon. MALDI spectra of the different samples shows differences in the biomarker composition, according to the sample type (organ or tissue) and the fish status (healthy, non-healthy). The implementation of MALDI techniques in the study of fish biomarkers is discussed. Acknowledgements: Project FONDECYT 3140289 and Project Fraunhofer Chile Research #09CEII-6991. References: 1 Chughtai, K., Heeren, R.M.A. Chemical Reviews 2010, 110, 3237. 2 Reyzer, M.L., Caprioli, R.M. Journal of Proteome Research 2005, 4, 1138.